Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘PHALDUKAI’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘PHALDUKAI’, particularly characterized by having purple flowers with small centers, 1 to 2 peduncles, a peduncle that is long and sturdy, leaves that are obovate and moderately elongated, and is propagated by tissue culture is disclosed.

Genus and species: Phalaenopsis hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘PHALDUKAI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofPhalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceaefamily, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘PHALDUKAI’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 60 species of herbaceousperennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable forcultivar in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantlyepiphytic or rock dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the MalayArchipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy,oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodialgrowth), which vary in size from 12 to 20 cm to over 60 cm. The leavesmay be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in thehorticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for theflorist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home orinteriorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes or panicles,often with many showy flowers which open in succession beginning withthe lowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; thelateral ones being alike. The lowermost petals, called the labellum, arethree-lobed and are often more brightly-colored than the other flowersegments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellow,and red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexualpropagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots which arisefrom the lower bracts of the inflorescence. The resulting plants aredetached from the mother plants and may be planted in a suitablesubstrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘PHALDUKAI’ is particularly characterized by itsattractive and unique purple flowers with small centers, economicalpropagation by tissue culture, rapid growth, and a plant dimensionsuitable for packaging and shipping to the market.

‘PHALDUKAI’ is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by theinventor in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘PHALDUKAI’ originated from a cross made in January2006 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The female parent is a Phalaenopsispot plant named ‘01-1384’ (unpatented), while the male parent is apurple Phalaenopsis pot plant named ‘01-1452’ (unpatented). A singleplant was selected in January 2009 and has been asexually reproducedrepeatedly by meristem tissue culture in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands overa 3.5-year period. The new variety has been found to retain itsdistinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

Asexual reproduction of ‘PHALDUKAI’ by tissue culture was firstperformed in September 2011 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands and hasdemonstrated that the new cultivar is firmly fixed and retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have been applied for in Europeon Sep. 30, 2014. ‘PHALDUKAI’ has not been made publicly available orsold anywhere in the world more than one year prior to the filing dateof this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands.

-   -   1) Purple flowers with small centers;    -   2) 1 to 2 peduncles;    -   3) Peduncle is long and sturdy;    -   4) The shape of the leaf is obovate and moderately elongated;        and    -   5) Plants are propagated by meristem tissue culture.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Phalaenopsis plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographs which show the overall plant habit including blooms andfoliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonablyobtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are ofa 50-week old plant grown in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlandsin March 2015.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms and foliage of‘PHALDUKAI’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of a flower of ‘PHALDUKAI’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the leaves of ‘PHALDUKAI’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘PHALDUKAI’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inBleiswijk, The Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 50-week oldplants which were planted from a nursery tray in 12 centimeter pots andgrown in a greenhouse between 27° C. to 29° C. for 30 weeks, continuedby a cooling period of 8 weeks between 18° C. to 20° C. and 12 weeks ina greenhouse of 21° C. Observations were made in March 2015. Colorreadings were taken under 4-6000 lux natural light in the greenhouse.Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2001).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Orchidaceae.        -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid.        -   Common name.—Moth Orchid.        -   Variety name.—‘PHALDUKAI’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘01-1384’ (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘01-1452’ (unpatented).-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Tissue culture.-   Plant:    -   -   Crop time (time to produce a finished flowering plant).—48            to 50 weeks for a 12 cm pot.        -   Growth habit of peduncle.—Standard, green leaves, raceme to            panicle.        -   Height (including pot, including inflorescence).—63.0 cm to            73.0 cm.        -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—39.0 cm to 44.0 cm.        -   Vigor.—Strong.-   Roots:    -   -   Root description.—Greyed-green colored roots (RHS 190B/C)            with branching lateral roots having slightly red-purple            colored root tips (RHS 60C).-   Leaves:    -   -   Mature leaves.—Quantity per plant: 7 to 9 leaves are            produced before flowering. Length (fully expanded): 21.0 cm            to 25.0 cm. Width: 9.0 cm to 10.0 cm. Position of broadest            part of leaf: Towards the apex. Shape: Obovate. Base shape:            Moderately elongated. Apex: Unequal obtuse. Leaf blade angle            with the petiole: Between 0 degrees and 25 degrees (measured            from the horizontal position). Leaf margin: Entire. Color:            Upper surface: RHS 146A. Lower surface: RHS 146B and 187A.            Variegation: Absent. Texture (upper and lower surfaces):            Smooth. Thickness: 2.5 mm to 2.9 mm. Venation: Pattern:            Parallel. Color of the midvein: Upper surface: RHS 147A.            Lower surface: RHS 187A.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—1 to 2.        -   Number of flowers per peduncle.—10 to 13.        -   Length.—55.0 cm to 60.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—5.8 mm to 6.3 mm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Upright.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Brown (RHS 200A) and slightly greyed-green (RHS            194B).        -   Internode length.—45.0 mm to 55.0 mm.        -   Callosities.—None.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, raceme to panicle            inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open            in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.        -   Inflorescence size.—Height (from base to tip): 260.0 mm to            290.0 mm. Diameter: 4.0 mm to 4.3 mm.        -   Number of inflorescences per plant.—1 to 3.        -   Flowering time.—First flowers can be expected 10 to 11            months after planting in a 12 cm pot.        -   Flower.—Height: 75.0 mm to 80.0 mm. Diameter: 80.0 mm to            85.0 mm. Depth of lip: 19.0 mm to 20.0 mm.        -   Flower longevity.—On the plant: 10 to 15 weeks.        -   Flower shape.—Concave.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Free. Shape: Semi-circular. Apex:            Symmetric and mucronate. Margin: Entire. Length (from base            to tip): 37.0 mm to 39.0 mm. Width: 50.0 mm to 52.0 mm.            Position of broadest part of petal: Towards the base. Color            (when fully opened): Main color: Purple (RHS 78A) with the            small center (RHS 78C). At the base: Purple (RHS 78A). Spots            on the petals: Very few to few spots (RHS 59A and 71A).            Stripes on the petals: Very few to few stripes (RHS 72A).            Netting on the petals: None.        -   Dorsal sepal.—Shape: Wide elliptic. Margin: Entire. Length            (from base to tip): 42.0 mm to 44.0 mm. Width: 35.0 mm to            37.0 mm. Position of broadest part of dorsal sepal: At the            middle. Color (when fully opened): Main color: Purple (RHS            78A). At the base: Purple (RHS 78A). Spots on the dorsal            sepal: Few to medium spots (RHS 84C). Stripes on the dorsal            sepal: Very few to few stripes (RHS 72A). Netting on the            dorsal sepal: Very low to low (RHS 72A).        -   Lateral sepals.—Shape: Ovate. Margin: Entire. Length (from            base to tip): 41.0 mm to 43.0 mm. Width: 31.0 mm to 33.0 mm.            Position of broadest part of lateral sepal: Towards the            base. Color (when fully opened): Main color: Red-purple (RHS            59A and 78A). At the base: Purple (RHS 78A). Spots on the            lateral sepal: RHS 84C. Stripes on the lateral sepal: RHS            72A. Netting on the lateral sepal: Very low (RHS 72A).        -   Labellum (lip).—Margin: Slightly undulated. Shape:            Spatulate. Length: 18.0 mm to 20.0 mm. Width: 22.0 mm to            24.0 mm. Whiskers: Present. Length of whiskers: Long; 16.0            mm to 18.0 mm        -   Lateral lobe.—Shape: Type V (as described in the            International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of            Plants (UPOV) Test Guidelines for Phalaenopsis). Color: Dark            greyed-purple (RHS 187A/B and 59A). Netting of the lateral            lobe: None.        -   Apical lobe.—Shape: Triangular-trullate. Length: 22.0 mm to            25.0 mm. Width: 23.0 mm to 25.0 mm. Color: Dark            greyed-purple (RHS 187B and 59A). Netting of the apical            lobe: None.        -   Callus.—Color: Greyed-red (RHS 178A) with greyed-orange            spots (RHS 163C).-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a            single, short structure called the column, possessing one            terminal anther with pollen grains united into pollinia,            which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located            under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior            with three carpels present.        -   Column.—Length: 7.5 mm to 8.5 mm. Diameter: 6.0 mm to            7.0 mm. Color: Purple (RHS 78A).        -   Pollinia.—Quantity: 2. Size: 0.9 mm to 1.0 mm. Color: Orange            (RHS 24A).        -   Ovary.—Length: 7.0 mm to 9.0 mm. Diameter: 2.6 mm to 2.8 mm.        -   Pedicel.—Length: 30.0 mm to 35.0 mm. Diameter: 3.3 mm to            3.5 mm. Texture: Smooth. Color: Purple-red (RHS N77B).-   Disease, pest, and stress resistance: No specific resistance or    susceptibility observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of 15° C. and a    high temperature about 30° C.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

The female parent of ‘PHALDUKAI’, cultivar ‘01-1384’ is no longeravailable, so a meaningful comparison cannot be made.

‘PHALDUKAI’ differs from male parent ‘01-1452’ (unpatented) in that‘PHALDUKAI’ has a callus that is greyed-red with greyed-orange spots,whereas ‘01-1452’ has a callus that is yellow dotted. Additionally,‘PHALDUKAI’ has longer whiskers than ‘01-1452’.

‘PHALDUKAI’ differs from commercial variety ‘PHALBATZOM’ (unpatented) inthat ‘PHALDUKAI’ has a callus that is greyed-red with greyed-orangespots and petals that are free, whereas ‘PHALBATZOM’ has a callus thatis yellow dotted and petals that are touching or almost touching.Additionally, ‘PHALDUKAI’ has a darker flower color than ‘PHALBATZOM’.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named‘PHALDUKAI’, substantially as described and illustrated herein.